Man pleads guilty to assault in fatal Central El Paso bar fight

A 25-year-old man no longer faces a homicide charge in the death of another man during a bar fight last year.

Court records show that during a hearing earlier this month before County Court At Law No. 2 Judge Julie Gonzalez, Kevin Esquivel pleaded guilty to an information document charging him with a misdemeanor assault causing bodily injury charge.

As part of a plea agreement with state prosecutors, Esquivel was sentenced to a year of deferred adjudication, a form of probation in which a defendant can seek to have a charge dismissed if he successfully completes the terms of his probation.

Last year, a state district court grand jury indicted Esquivel of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Alberto Mena, 64, who died days after suffering head injuries during a bar fight on June 15.

According to police reports filed in the case, Mena and Esquivel were at El Coyote Pool Bar, 5610 El Paso, about 8 p.m. on June 15 when they began fighting. Mena was taken to University Medical Center with extensive injuries to his face and head.

Esquivel allegedly caused Mena's death by hitting Mena in the face, causing Mena to fall and hit his head on the floor, according to Esquivel's indictment. Esquivel was arrested after a state district court grand jury indicted him in August.

The homicide charge was dismissed after Esquivel pleaded guilty to the assault charge.

As part of the plea agreement, Esquivel must also report to his probation officer every month, remain in El Paso County, serve 80 hours of community service and pay a $500 fine, half of which was probated.